TMAAKAM

OR Nirvaakam) , Poem by Adi Shankacharya

Mano buddhya hakra chitti ha
na ca rotra jihve na ca ghra netre
na ca vyoma bhmir a tejo a vyu
cidada rpa hivo'ham hivo'ham (1)

na ca pra sajo na vai paca vyu
a v sapta dhtur a v paca koa
a vk pi pda a copastha pyu
cidada rpa ivo'ham ivo'ham (2)







a me dvea rgau a me lobha mohau
mado aiva me aiva mtsarya bhva
a dharmo a crtho a kmo a moka
cidada rpa ivo'ham ivo'ham (3)

a puya a ppa a saukhya a dukha
a matro a trtha a ved a yaja
aha bhojaa aiva bhojya a bhokt
cidada rpa ivo'ham ivo'ham (4)

na me mtyuak a me jtibheda
pit aiva me aiva mt a jama
a badhur a mitra gurur aiva iya
cidada rpa ivo'ham ivo'ham (5)

aha irvikalpo irkra rpo
vibhutvca sarvtra sarvedriy
a c sagata aiva muktir a meya
cidada rpa ivo'ham ivo'ham (6)



TMAAKAM
OR Nirvaakam) , Poem by Adi Shankacharya


Mano buddhya hakra chitti ha
na ca rotra jihve na ca ghra netre
na ca vyoma bhmir a tejo a vyu
cidada rpa ivo'ham ivo'ham (1)


1) I am not mind, nor intellect, nor ego, nor the reflections of
inner self (chitta). I am not the five senses. I am beyond that. I am
not the ether, nor the earth, nor the fire, nor the wind (the five
elements). I am indeed, That eternal knowing and bliss, the
auspicious (Shivam), love and pure consciousness.



na ca pra sajo a vai paca vyu
a v sapta dhtur a v paca koa
a vk pi pda a copastha pyu
cidada rpa ivo'ham ivo'ham (2)

2) Neither can I be termed as energy (prana), nor five types of
breath (vayus), nor the seven material essences, nor the five
coverings (pancha-kosha). Neither am I the five instruments of
elimination, procreation, motion, grasping, or speaking. I am
indeed, That eternal knowing and bliss, the auspicious (Shivam),
love and pure consciousness.

a me dvea rgau a me lobha mohau
mado aiva me aiva mtsarya bhva
a dharmo a crtho a kmo a moka
cidada rpa ivo'ham ivo'ham (3)

3) I have no hatred or dislike, nor affiliation or liking, nor greed,
nor delusion, nor pride or haughtiness, nor feelings of envy or
jealousy. I have no duty (dharma), nor any money, nor any desire
(kama), nor even liberation (moksha). I am indeed, That eternal
knowing and bliss, the auspicious (Shivam), love and pure
consciousness.

a puya a ppa a saukhya a
dukha
a matro a trtha a ved a yaja
aha bhojaa aiva bhojya a bhokt
cidada rpa ivo'ham ivo'ham (4)

4) I have neither merit (virtue), nor demerit (vice). I do not
commit sins or good deeds, nor have happiness or sorrow, pain or
pleasure. I do not need mantras, holy places, scriptures (Vedas),
rituals or sacrifices (yagnas). I am none of the triad of the
observer or one who experiences, the process of observing or
experiencing, or any object being observed or experienced. I am
indeed, That eternal knowing and bliss, the auspicious (Shivam),
love and pure consciousness.

a me mtyuak a me jtibheda
pit aiva me aiva mt a jama
a badhur a mitra gurur aiva iya
cidada rpa ivo'ham ivo'ham (5)

5) I do not have fear of death, as I do not have death. I have no
separation from my true self, no doubt about my existence, nor
have I discrimination on the basis of birth. I have no father or
mother, nor did I have a birth. I am not the relative, nor the friend,
nor the guru, nor the disciple. I am indeed, That eternal knowing
and bliss, the auspicious (Shivam), love and pure consciousness.

aha irvikalpo irkra rpo
vibhutvca sarvtra sarvedriy
a c sagata aiva muktir a meya
cidada rpa ivo'ham ivo'ham (6)

6) I am all pervasive. I am without any attributes, and without any
form. I have neither attachment to the world, nor to liberation
(mukti). I have no wishes for anything because I am everything,
everywhere, every time, always in equilibrium. I am indeed, That
eternal knowing and bliss, the auspicious (Shivam), love and pure
consciousness.



The Atma shatkam(Devangar: , IAST: tmaakam)is also known as Nirvana Shatkam
(Devangar: , IAST: Nirvaakam),
[1]
and by other variations of these names. It is a loka in
six stanzas written by the great di akara (first Shankaracharya) summarizing the basic teachings of Advaita
Vedanta, or the Hindu teachings of non-dualism. It was written around 788-820 CE. He mastered the Vedas by
the age of 6. This shows he is a re-incarnation, as Vedas take a whole lifetime to master.
When a young boy of eight (Adi Sankara), while wandering in the Himalayas, seeking to find his Guru, he
encountered a sage who asked him, "Who are you?". The boy answered with these stanzas, which are known as
"Nirvana Shatakam" or Atma Shatakam".
The sage the boy was talking to was Swami Govindpada Acharya, who was, indeed, the teacher he was looking
for. These few verses can be of tremendous value to progress in contemplation practices that lead to Self-
Realization.
"Nirvana" is complete equanimity, peace, tranquility, freedom and joy. "Atma" is the True Self.
The speaker of the poem is nominally iva, but it is generally seen as a statement by a knowing person of
identity with iva or Brahm. The speaker lists in the earlier verses what he (or Brahm) is not. He is not
body or mind, nor the things that attach them to each other and to the world, including the intellect, the senses,
the practices of life, the occurrences of life such as birth and death. In the last verse he says that he permeates
the universe, and that he is consciousness, bliss and the soul, and by implication, the Atman and Brahm.
[2][3]
References
Iyengar, B. K. S. (1966, 1976). Light on Yoga (or the Yoga Dipika). Thorsons: An Imprint of Harper
Collins Publishers, Hammersmith, London. ISBN 1-85538-166-4

1. ^ http://www.sankaracharya.org/nirvana_shatkam.php
2. ^ http://www.swamij.com/shankara-atma-shatakam.htm
3. ^ http://www.svbf.org/journal/vol2no4/nirvana.pdf